The contribution of existing health facilities to the control of urinary schistosomiasis in northern Cameroon

This paper attempts to analyse the impact of the regular functioning of existing health services on the control of urinary schistosomiasis in two villages in northern Cameroon. The health centres' diagnostic systems selectively recognise heavy infections. The efficacy of reaching and subsequently treating heavily infected subjects, however, is low. No more than around 5% of the heavily infected subjects in the health centres' catchments areas is reached on an annual basis. Further analysis shows that the percentage of infected and heavily infected subjects is not higher among the visitors of the health centre than in the inhabitants of the villages involved. Heavy infection is not a reason to visit the health centre, in these villages. To increase the role of the existing health structure in coping with Schistosoma haematobium infections, the diagnostic system, used in the health centres, could be improved by a standardized inclusion of laboratory examination of clinically suspected individuals. Simultaneously, the awareness of the infected population to respond to infection by visiting the health centre needs further development.